German election results live: Right-wing extremist AfD surge is warned for the other parties in Germany, says winner Merz

Barbara Tasch
Live reporter

Image source, Reuters

It was significant 24 hours in German politics after the federal elections. We will soon conclude our live reporting, so here is a brief rework:

Image source, EPA

Friedrich Merz, the CDU leader, has sworn to form a coalition government quickly – ideally with the Social Democrats.

However, the AfD will not be part of this coalition, since other parties that are referred to as “firewall” have not been adopted with the right -wing extremist parties. You can read more about it and why the AfD is referred to here on the far right.

But when the country continues from its Snap federal elections, a strong contrast arose: the west and the east of the country are politically contradictory.

Internationally, Merz said that he “would do everything in my power to save this good transatlantic relationship” – but earlier comments about the need for “independence” from the USA “represent” a seismic change “in relationships, writes our Europe – Editor Katya Adler.

Merz has clear ambitions to make Germany a driving force in Europe and global matters and to spend more for defense without affecting the German “debt brake”.

The coming months will show how he tries this balancing act – as soon as he can find coalition partners.